Germany Temporarily Withdraws Embassy Staff from Iraq Over Security Threats
Germany has temporarily withdrawn staff from its embassy in Baghdad due to heightened security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East between the US, Israel and Iran, according to Reuters.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced late Monday that Berlin has temporarily relocated the personnel of the German embassy outside Iraq due to the prevailing “security threat.”
He added that the safety of diplomatic staff is being continuously evaluated.
The spokesperson further noted that the embassy remains accessible. However, its legal and consular services have already been significantly curtailed for some time over the latest developments in the war with Iran.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, targeting its leadership and triggering a new conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has been responding with a retaliatory counterattack in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi as a retaliatory move, while launching barrages of missiles and drones toward Israel.
One of the US-Israel strikes had killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His killing has raised critical questions concerning Iran’s future.
US embassies across the Middle East have been placed on heightened alert. Moreover, Iran has targeted several diplomatic missions as part of its retaliatory strikes that targeted industrial and diplomatic sites.
Speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, said he had discussed the regional situation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Both officials denounced what Wadephul described as Iran’s “indiscriminate attacks” against countries in the region and called on Tehran to immediately halt them.
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